Early this year, I had a candid conversation with my children to prepare them psychologically for another term without a break just before they opened.
The discourse was punctuated with a question, “does any one of you have a stolen item?”
They all looked astonished as the words sank like a sharp razor piercing through their conscience. Many times parents think that items can only be stolen from their children, not the other way round.
We need to walk away from false modesty which assumes that our children are innocent just because they have not been caught bullying, stealing or peddling illicit drugs.
Parents ought to take the responsibility of shaping morals into their children very seriously.
Recently, there was an interesting dialogue in a vernacular radio station about a boy who was caught with fifty scientific calculators looking for somebody to buy them at Sh250 each.
Another student was seen with fifteen textbooks and was negotiating with second-hand booksellers for Sh200 each.
One wonders how such students leave the school compound carrying such a consignment without notice.
There is strict control on what comes into the school but the extra focus is needed on what students leave with when going outside.
Paradoxically, parents have to replace these items stolen from their children despite the diminished purchasing power.
Some inappropriate behaviour among adults started right from school and parents need to extinguish any trace of such vices.
Most graduates are wrestling with dwindling opportunities while employers are grappling with the unavailability of ethics among workers.
A mushroom farmer in Kiambu complained that many job seekers are lacking important traits.
Commitment is lacking amongst the young people and few can be relied upon to provide quality service.
Punctuality is a mark of discipline but some will steal time by coming late and cannot be relied upon to meet deadlines.
They are not dedicated to their duty and work.
Moreover, self-motivated people who can work hard to fulfil their dreams are in short supply.
Most workers are not persistent enough to generate required results nor do they know what they want in life. The majority are not willing to discover their purpose while most do not love what they do.
Most job hunters lack passion which is an intense enthusiasm towards something.
Passion brings pleasure and makes one be focused on accuracy and finesse.
Some young people see work as a workload but they need to become innovative so that work ceases from being a load into a commitment.
This was proved right by a technology wizard, Steve Jobs, who said, “the only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
Lastly, job seekers do not have insight thereby missing to get an accurate understanding of the true meaning of work.
Without getting the big picture such a worker will not help the organisation move forward or strive for personal development.
Every diligent worker should learn to handle diverse challenges because organisations face myriad problems. Figuring how to fix problems makes a worker indispensable.
It is important to note that employers seek to engage individuals with the above qualities.
To have a successful career you must build character accompanied by a solid work ethic.
Psychological counsellor and a motivational speaker
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
